December 24, 2007 - Acrostic Poetry
(Unrhymed verse in which the letters of the topic are written vertically letter by letter, each of which is used to construct a phrase or a sentence that describes the topic.)
Snowflakes:
Snowflakes form, and
No two are alike with
Origami shapes, as
Whispers of crystals and
Flowers of ice fall from the sky.
Lightly floating
Aloft in the breeze,
Kaleidoscopes of sparkling,
Effervescent crystals
Soften the landscape of Earth.
Audio Version of Snowflakes
September 26, 2007
I went kayaking on the pond yesterday afternoon to enjoy some of the first autumn colors. Unfortunately, my attention was continually diverted to all the trash that people (mostly fisherfolk) left behind after pursuing their avocation. I do pond cleanup every couple of months from ice-out to ice-in. If I didn’t do this regularly, the pond would be a disaster area (I remember the first trash pickup I did on the pond 7 years ago yielded about 30 pounds of trash.) So, being the only steward of the pond that I know of, I picked up trash for a few hours; bottles here, cans there, some fishing line with hook attached, lures with hooks, lures without hooks, bobbers, and more bobbers, bait containers, and food wrappers strewn hither and yon, from the shore’s edge to several feet underwater.
As I was paddling and searching for trash, I thought of Aristotle who wrote, “that which is common to the greatest number [of people] has the least care bestowed upon it.” How true it is…and this quote from a man who lived from 384 BC to 322 BC. It seems that Man has not evolved much in terms of caring for the Earth over all these years. And, as our population blossoms, more and more trash gets left behind. Oh, how I pray for social responsibility to take hold of the masses as the Earth heads toward massive over population. Each one of us must do our best to take care of our precious little piece of the planet. Hmmm…my students would tell you that we should all be interacting parts that act as a whole, a system of humanity that strives to save the only planet we will ever have the pleasure to live on and call home. If only this were so…
Audio Version of Good Steward
September 16, 2007
I felt as though I had returned home after a long absence. A gaping void was filled, a few tears flowed, and they are still flowing.
I was filled with a sense of belonging that I have not felt for many years. I also sensed the spirit of my father by my side, nodding approval to all he saw.
And, what he saw was that I was surrounded by people of like mind…environmentalists from all over New England…150 strong, gathering to try and make the world a better place to live in…to “Build Bridges: Creating Change for a Common Good”…
Parts of quotes as I scribbled rapidly during keynotes and workshops: Rachel Carson, “If a child is to keep an interest in nature, he must have an adult to share his excitement.” Tom Wessels, “No system can grow uncontrollably and remain sustainable.” “Cell phones have a much higher carbon footprint than laptop computers.” “We must become a community of less consumption or anxiety and depression take place / more computer time yields less reflective time with lots of input but experientially poor.” Alisa Gravitz, “Affirm and re-double your commitment to living lightly on Earth.” “Whenever a dollar leaves your hand, it has an impact.” “Buy intentionally / Buy Green / Buy Local.” Chesapeake Bay Foundation, “No Child Left Inside.”
Inspirational… values affirmations…humbling…eye-opening…dedication to a cause…dedication to a way of life…dedication to helping all living things…dedication to the creation of worldwide sustainability…making a difference locally and globally…happy feet…happy faces…dancing bodies…laughter…applause…appreciation…
Maine Environmental Education Association, New England Environmental Education Alliance, Audubon, Chewonki, Four Winds Nature Institute, Maine DEP, Ferry Beach Ecology School, Univ. New Hampshire Climate Change Research Center, Co-op America, Auburn land Lab, Center for Whole Communities, Maine Primitive Skills Schools, Hands-On Boat-Based Education & Science, White Pines Program, Audubon Expedition Institute, Kroka Expeditions of Vermont, Antioch University…to name a few of the presenting organizations at the conference. Powerhouses of environmentalism all in one great location at Camp Matoaka in Smithfield, Maine.
Audio Version of Live Lightly
June 27, 2007
In this modern computerized world, there appears to be less and less time for people to enjoy the outdoors . Everyone seems to be in a hurry, and a general disconnect is evident as people always seem to be plugged into some device or other. When I am outdoors, I continually want to have use of all my senses to fully appreciate the natural world.
I want to hear the warbling of the birds, the buzzing of the bees, the knock-on-wood sound of the pileated woodpeckers as they search for insects high up in the trees. Then, there are the subtler sounds like the rustle of leaves, the soft babbling of the brook, the violin-like creaking of one tree trunk against another as they sway in the wind. All of that would be lost to me if I had an MP3 player blasting music into my ears.
I try to wear odor-free sunscreen and insect repellent (if possible) when walking in the woods because I want to take full advantage of all the fresh scents that are wafting in the breeze. My favorite scent is that of sap, be it pine, or birch, or maple. That scent is what defines a forest for me, and it is different from place to place. A forest in Maine smells differently from one in Florida, or in Colorado, for example.
I want to experience the texture of the tree trunks, the coolness of the minerals in the rocks of the river bed, and the ridges of the blades of a sedge. I cannot do that if I am always power walking, so I try to slow down my pace periodically and immerse myself in my surroundings.
What better way to immerse yourself in your surroundings than by tasting the bounty that Mother Earth has to offer. Succulent raspberries and sweet, low bush blueberries are nice and ripe out in the forest and on the rocky ridges. I’ve had both, just this week, on my travels through hill and dale.
Hey! It’s late and I’ve got to go outside, use my sense of sight, and do a little stargazing. Enough of this computer! Aughhh…light pollution! Save some energy and turn off those outside lights at night.
Audio Version of Losing Touch.
August 22, 2006
It was an early August morning
and a low mist hung still over the pond.
The water surface was glassy smooth as I paddled
to a shallow, sheltered portion of the south shore.
There was something different about the water surface here.
It was covered with tiny bubbles.
I sat and pondered this anomaly.
Could it be that the mud was out-gassing for some reason?
No.
So, what then?
I scanned the surface of the water, and then I saw it.
A ripple.
Then, a snapping turtle snout appeared,
exhaled and took in fresh air, then sank again.
A few seconds later the turtle looked as if it were doing
a headstand in the water.
Ooh, I thought, “It’s catching fish.”
No…that’s not it.
Because now there are two shells,
belly to belly with sharp, clawed feet
clinging to each of them.
Then, two heads appeared.
Lots of twisting and turning,
dunking and surfacing.
Ohhhh….they must be flirting with each other!
Then, two hours later,
after traversing a large part of the shallows,
still in a clumsy embrace,
all became quiet.
Mating had begun.
Snapping turtle love.
Audio Version of Snapping Turtle Love.
